Love beyond the mask ( Whitney )
Chapter 870

Sammy leaned in close, whispering like it was the juiciest secret, "Actually, I had a bit of a showdown with Ludwik last night." "...What?"

"Yeah, we've had our differences, you know? Decided to bury the hatchet after a little tussle. I'm gonna try to lay off him, give Danny's dream of a happy family a fighting chance. Ludwik wants to chase after you again, and I'll look the other way, promised him I'd stop playing saboteur." Whitney was dumbfounded, to say the least.

"You guys rushed out in the middle of the night just for that?" she asked, skepticism dripping from every word.

"Man's gotta do what a man's gotta do. Sometimes, you need a deserted place to settle things." Sammy cocked an eyebrow, his face the picture of 'that's just how it is.' Whitney could only shake her head in disbelief.

Was it really just that? She furrowed her brows in confusion. Sammy was known for his cunning; who could say if he was telling the truth?

It felt like the father and son were up to something big...

Her mind wasn't entirely at ease, but pressing Sammy for details seemed futile. "When you left the company, Ludwik was heading to the sales conference, right?" Sammy nodded, checking the time. It had been almost an hour since he'd left the Lippert Group.

The conference was supposed to last about two hours.

He raised an eyebrow, "Dad should be wrapping up and heading back soon. He knows you're still around the Lippert family; he'll rush back for lunch, try anything to keep you here." Whitney's cheeks flushed, and she couldn't help but glare at her son, "Sammy, you're starting to smooth things over for him now?"

"Er..."

"What exactly did Ludwik say to you last night to make you change your tune?" Whitney propped her arm, skepticism clear in her pose.

Sammy pursed his lips.

Could he admit that last night, he was actually moved? He had thought Ludwik was a man lacking in responsibility, not someone they could depend on. He had zero trust in the deadbeat dad. But Ludwik didn't hesitate for a second, pained by the thought of losing the baby, deciding to keep the sister.

Sammy's wish was heard, and his long-standing hostility and hatred towards his deadbeat dad suddenly disappeared.

He realized his dad could indeed be their rock.

But he wouldn't say all this.

Sammy scratched his head, offering a sheepish smile, "I'm not really speaking for him, just... he seems a bit more bearable now. Just messing with you guys, you know? So, gonna wait for him?" Whitney, of course, had her own questions for Ludwik.

"Danny's out back with great-grandma, trimming the flowers. Why don't you join them? After lunch, I'll take you boys over to your uncle's." Sammy dashed off to the backyard.

Whitney stepped into the kitchen, which was occupied by just one servant.

Natalie had left the Lippert family home last night, it wouldn't have been appropriate for her to stay over without reason.

As for Natalie and the old Mr. Jason Lippert... Whitney couldn't help but indulge in a bit of gossip, wanting to ask Ludwik.

But if she probed too much, it might give him the wrong idea, make him think she was too interested in his family matters. This man was already spinning tales in front of his family.

Whitney idly touched the rim of her cup, her mind wandering as the servant quickly prepared lunch. Jason Riley had returned from the company. Whitney looked up, expecting to see Ludwik's tall figure, but he was nowhere in sight.

Her lips twitched in disappointment-

Sammy caught her looking around, his lips curling into a knowing smirk. He could tell who she was looking for, but she was too shy to ask outright. So he turned and asked, "Grandpa, where's dad? Didn't he come back for lunch?"

"Deadbeat dad?" Jason's brows furrowed deeply, clearly displeased with the nickname but too fond of his grandson to scold him.

He swallowed back his retort, "Sammy, your dad won't be back for lunch. He's swamped, had to dash off to Fortu-Nova Bank for some business."

At the mention of 'Fortu-Nova Bank,' Whitney's heart skipped a beat, her thoughts immediately jumping to Bryce.

Ludwik had mentioned he'd bankrupt Bryce within a week.

It was only the second day; was his thirst for revenge that urgent?

But Sammy, with his clear insight, knew exactly why his dad was in such a rush to hit the bank - to tighten the noose around Bryce's neck!

-

At the Fortu-Nova Bank headquarters in Emperor City.

With his fortune restored, Ludwik reclaimed his spot as one of Harmonia Country's most dazzling figures, especially after this morning's Lippert family product sales conference, which secured contracts worth billions.

The sharks of Emperor City's elite knew that the Lippert Group was still the one to beat.

The Patrick Group and the rising Lutz Group were just flashes in the pan compared to them.

In the cutthroat world of business, Ludwik's ruthlessness meant the Lutz Group had no future.

The bank manager, waiting in his office, understood Ludwik's intentions the moment he saw the imposing man walk in.

"Ludwik, good to see you."

As they shook hands, Ludwik sat down, his long legs crossed. Felix, following closely, laid down the briefcase and pulled out a contract, cutting straight to the chase: "Mr. Bank Manager, Mr. Lippert prefers to keep things straightforward. This morning, the Lippert family secured orders totaling nearly a billion, and we're considering depositing it all in Fortu-Nova Bank..."

The manager's eyes lit up at the prospect.

"But there's a condition." Felix glanced at Ludwik's stern face before continuing, "Mr. Lippert wants you to use your loans to crush Bryce, to freeze and blacklist the Lutz Group's assets within a day."

The manager gasped at the audacity!

Ludwik was playing a dangerous game, using the bank as a weapon.

Taking down Bryce personally would involve legal risks and time.

But Fortu-Nova Bank, already entangled with Bryce's debts, could act swiftly and legally!

If Fortu-Nova Bank was ready to go to war.

"Um..." The Bank Manager's lips trembled.

Ludwik, pressing down on the contract with his long fingers, stood up. His expensive slacks were so crisp, not a wrinkle in sight, "Mr. Manager, I could invest my nine hundred billion anywhere. Give it a thought for a second. I want all of the Lutz Group's assets frozen today. I want Bryce blacklisted." "...I'm in! Ludwik, you got it."

Nine hundred billion. That would exceed the bank manager's targets for several years.

The temptation was too big. And getting on Ludwik's good side promised a future filled with success.

As for Bryce, he was probably doomed with Ludwik on his tail. No way he could turn the tables now.

-

That afternoon, Whitney heard the financial news at the Sheldon Group.

The Lutz Group had all its assets frozen by Fortu-Nova Bank, which had also blacklisted Bryce in the industry!

This meant Bryce couldn't borrow a dime from any bank to help him through his troubles.

The companies he had defaulted on were collapsing upon hearing the news.

Everyone realized that the money lost in the Lutz Group might never be recovered. Dozens of company representatives stormed into the Lutz Group office, smashing things, and it was even heard that they took anything of value with them. Now, Bryce was hiding at home, not showing his face.

Journalists were practically barricading his mansion.

Ludwik even publicly threatened in the media: any company or person that helped the Lutz Group would be openly declaring war against the Lippert family, and the Lippert family would not let them off easily.

The entire business world of Emperor City fell into a deadly silence.